Medical Marijuana in Kansas

Since the passing of the 2018 Senate Bill 282, CBD oil has been removed from the state’s definition of marijuana, making it essentially legal. Let’s take a closer look at the state of medical marijuana in Kansas.

History

Before WWI, cannabis could be obtained legally for medical purposes in Kansas. However, after the war, a wave of drug and alcohol prohibition swept through the nation and Kansas was no exception. Following the examples of other Midwestern states, Kansas finally made cannabis illegal in 1927. Both the recreational and medical use of marijuana and cannabis oil became outlawed.

Following the end of WWII, Kansas remained strongly opposed to any and every decriminalization and legalization movement. As such movements bloomed in the 1960s and 1970s, especially in California, Kansas remained firmly on the conservative side.

By the end of the 20th century, medical marijuana became legal in several states, and even more states legalized it in some form in the first decade of the 21st century. By the second decade of the 21st century, Kansas remained one of a handful of states without a statewide medical marijuana program. Some states like Washington, Alaska, and California even legalized the recreational use of marijuana in the early 21st century.

The State of Medical Marijuana in Kansas

As of this writing, Kansas is surrounded on three sides by states that have legalized medical marijuana in one way or another. Colorado was one of the first states to legalize recreational use, while Missouri only legalized medical marijuana. Medical marijuana is also legal in Oklahoma. The other neighboring state, Nebraska, decriminalized marijuana.

While in Kansas, there isn’t a medical marijuana system for patients with debilitating diseases and conditions to legally obtain doctor’s recommendations and the drugs. There are no medical marijuana cards for patients and their caregivers or any dispensaries in the state.

Kansas laws also prohibit its residents from growing their own marijuana plants. Buying and selling marijuana is prohibited, as well, making it even harder for patients to obtain medical marijuana in Kansas.

As of May 14, 2018, Kansas has essentially legalized non-psychoactive CBD oil after the passage bill SB 282 which removes it from the state’s definition of marijuana. However, CBD oil is often made with a small percentage of THC which is an illegal substance according to Kansas laws. The bill has only legalized the oil, without establishing a legal framework for obtaining it.

Recent Attempts at Legalization

In recent years, there have been several initiatives and movements to legalize and decriminalize the use of marijuana and cannabis oil for medical purposes. State Senator David Haley pre-filed Senate Bill 9 in January 2018, which would allow patients to grow up to 12 plants and possess up to 6 ounces of marijuana at a time. However, the bill never passed into law. This was a rehash of another failed bill in 2015.

The city of Wichita decriminalized cannabis in April 2015 at the municipal level. The first-time possession of marijuana was reduced from a misdemeanor to an infraction and the fines went from $2,500 to $50. After the passing of the measure, the State Attorney General sued Wichita, claiming the city had no authority to change and reduce the penalties for cannabis possession.

In 2016, Kansas reduced the penalties for marijuana possession at the state level. Instead of 1 year, the first possession would be punishable by up to 6 months in jail. For the second possession, an individual could get up to one year in jail, as it’s reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor.

Conclusion 

Medical marijuana is illegal in Kansas as of this writing. CBD oil is legal but only if it doesn’t contain any THC. There are many such CBD oils available online but with unproven health benefits.

Kansas residents with severe and debilitating illnesses can’t legally buy or possess marijuana for medical purposes. Likewise, it’s illegal for the residents of Kansas to grow their own marijuana plants.

That being said, recent steps towards the decriminalization of marijuana and cannabis, coupled with the public’s growing support for medical marijuana, might change the tide in the years to come.